A First For Mansfield Teen Used To Coming In Last

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MANSFIELD (CBS11) - Cooper Soesbee, 12, finished last at every, single cross country meet this year.

But when Cooper crossed the finish-line on Wednesday for the final race of the year, something unexpected and special happened.

"I always like to run and I always wanted to do sports," said Cooper.

The 8th grader is on the autism spectrum and suffers from low-muscle tone.

"What sport could we put him in? We can play him in football because someone will snap him in two," said David Soesbee, his father.

David and his wife Kim landed on cross country.

"I was pretty excited to do the meets. But then I was really nervous," said Cooper.

Every meet though, Cooper was the last to finish. The final race of the year was no different. But just as Cooper was coming down a hill to finish, something happened that brought many spectators to tears.

"I don't know how that happened. I was like what?" said Cooper.

Everyone from the Danny Jones Middle School cross country team went back for Cooper and ran with him to finish the race.

"My eyes just, fill up with tears. I couldn't believe it," said Kim Soesbee, Cooper's mother.

What has impressed his team the most is that Cooper never gave up on his races.

"There were times when he sat there and say, 'Daddy, it hurts really bad, but I'm not going to quit.' And he never has," said David.

Cooper's mother Kim said her son's attitude should be an example to other parents who have special needs children.

"You can feel a little bit of despair. 'Oh my kid can't do anything.' And that's not true," said Kim.

Cooper plans to continue running when he gets to high school next year.

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